ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method and outlines the potential of this method to address resource nexus issues. It explores the possibilities of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) to include more of the aspects. The chapter shows that it is excellently suited to calculate resource or energy intensities, which are essential information for the resource nexus. In LCA, resource extraction and energy use is specified over the full life cycle of the product or service. The resource nexus is not static, but has many dynamic aspects. LCSA is a new and potentially very relevant research field, which may in the end encompass many other methods of analysis. A generally accepted definition of LCSA is not yet available, but there is a small body of studies claiming to be LSCA studies. The chapter concludes by the strengths and limitations of the LCA approach in addressing the resource nexus.
